Fossil fuels have played a key role in shaping modern society by providing heat, but a significant portion of that heat is wasted. To address this issue, researchers have been exploring thermoelectric devices—semiconductor materials capable of converting waste heat into electricity. However, most existing thermoelectrics are inefficient and costly, limiting their widespread use.
Recently, scientists at the University of Illinois have made a breakthrough by developing one of the most efficient thermoelectric materials using low-cost, common elements. This advancement could pave the way for broader applications, including powering vehicles and recovering energy from industrial processes like boilers and power plants. The team believes they've gained important insights that could eventually lead to materials meeting the efficiency needs of various industries.
Thermoelectric devices work by generating voltage when there's a temperature difference across them. For this to happen, the material must be a good electrical conductor but a poor thermal conductor. Unfortunately, these two properties often go hand in hand, making it difficult to create highly efficient thermoelectrics. Scientists measure performance using the ZT value, with a ZT of at least 3 being ideal for practical applications.
A few years ago, a research group led by chemist Mercouri Kanatzidis at Northwestern University discovered that lead telluride (PbTe) had a ZT value of 2.2. Encouraged by this, they explored similar compounds, such as tin selenide (SnSe). By testing different synthesis methods, they found that samples with a specific crystal orientation along the b-axis showed improved electrical conductivity and reduced thermal conductivity, achieving a ZT of 2.6. According to Kanatzidis, the unique atomic arrangement in SnSe plays a crucial role in lowering its thermal conductivity, allowing it to perform better than previous materials.
This discovery was recently published in *Nature*, and experts are excited about its implications. Joseph Heremans, a physicist from Ohio State University, called the result "wonderful" and noted that it represents a major step toward achieving a ZT of 3. He also highlighted that the new material could guide future research on improving semiconductor performance through doping while maintaining the critical atomic structure.
If high ZT materials can be produced reliably, it could lead to more affordable hybrid car engines. In such systems, the internal combustion engine generates heat, which is then converted into electricity via thermoelectrics to power the vehicle’s motor. This innovation could significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on traditional fuel sources.
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